Guide rod for feeding curtain suspenders into position

ABSTRACT

A guide rod for feeding curtain suspenders into a curtain rail has a straight portion made of a single run of box section curtain rail and a charging rod situated outside the inner groove of the straight portion and joined through the runner groove slot to a pusher reciprocatable within the runner groove. A die cast curved portion is secured to the end of the straight portion and has tongues which engage beneath a downwardly pivotable access gate in the curtain rail and an extending stiffening rib which is insertable in the runner groove of the curtain rail and lies upon the upper side of the downwardly swung gate in operation.

' United States Patent 1191* Finkbein'er' 1111 3,849,856 Nov. 26,1974

GUIDE Ron FOR FEEDING CURTAIN SUSPENDERS INTO POSITION inventor: Rudolf Finkbeiner, Niederstetten,

Germany Filed: Apr. 8, 1974 Appl. No.: 459,019

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 354,889, April 26, 1973.

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 2, 1972 Germany; 2253600 US. Cl. 29/200 D, 29/200 P Int. Cl 323p 19/00 Field of Search 29/200 P, 200 R, 200 J, 29/241, 433,200 D References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS v 8/1966 Griesser 1. 29/200 B 3,478,404 11/1969 Plummer 29/2008 Primary ExaminerThom'as H. Eager [5 7 ABSTRACT A guide rod for feeding curtain suspenders into a curtain rail has a straight portion made of a single run of box section curtain rail and a charging rod situated outside the inner groove of the straight portion and joined through the runner groove slot to a pusher reciprocatable within the runner groove. A die cast curved portion is secured to theend of the straight portion and has tongues which engage beneath a downwardly pivotable access gate in the curtain rail and an'extending stiffening rib which is insertable in the runner groove of the curtain rail and lies upon the upper side of the downwardly swung gate in operation.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures sum 2 or 5 PATENE mvzslsn SHEET 5 OF 6 PATENTE-u GUIDE ROD ,FOR FEEDING CURTAIN SUSPENDERS INTO POSITION This is a division of application Ser. No. 354,889, filed Apr. 26, 1973.

The invention relates to a guide rod for introducing curtain suspenders into a gate in curtain rails of the internal track type, said rod having a straight portion with a runner groove externally accessible by a longitudinally extending runner groove slot, said rod also having a handle and a forward end movable back and forth in the runner groove, a curved portion extending the runner groove, a stiffening rib in the curved portion which is centrally positioned and is substantially narrower than the runner groove slot of the internal runner curtain rail and is insertable therein with its narrower dimension for the purpose of lateral guidance and longitudinal alignment, a guide surface at each side of the stiffening rib at the upper end region of the curved portion, and, at each side of the runner groove slot of the rod, two tongues projecting as an extension of the curved portion from the lower end region.

To a large extent the fact has not been recognised that the number as well as the seriousness of accidents in the home amounts to half as much again as those on the roads. A substantial part of these accidents could occur in the putting up and the taking down of curtains.

I These operations necessitate overhead working in a usually inaccessible position and always when standing on a ladder or a similar support.

Attempts have been made to overcome difficulties by designing a part of the curtain rail to be foldable upwardly, whereby access to the runner grooves is facilitated. This made it possible to avoid working in corners and trying, practically in the darkness, to find an opening, whose dimensions were only of the same order as the outline of a curtain suspender (DAS 1,029,137).

Furthermore a harp shaped guide device is already known whereby the curtain suspenders can be aligned with each other. After setting these in a row, the device is placed from beneath against the curtain rail and the aligned suspenders are pushed into the rail. The operation of this device also requires a step ladder, and the device is practically not capable of being produced because it involves fitting internal runner curtain rails with curtain suspenders. This device has never come on to the market and the basic invention remained only as a piece of literature in the art (DAS 1,218,127).

Furthermore arod of the type first above described is already known; having a straight portion and a curved portion integral therewith consisting of a U profile. The U profile itself is much too narrow to make it convenient for handling. It is also much too flexible to be stable for the desired length. For this reason the rectilinear portion has been inserted in a U-shaped rail of wood. Only in this way is the rod rendered sufficiently stable and capable of being handled. In the runner groove there is guided a flexible rod which can be moved back and forth by means of a handle positioned transverse to the slot of the runner groove. At the end of the bent portion there is mounted a separately exchangeable extension, whereby the gate can be forced inwardly into the internal runner curtain rail, the extension having tongues fitting into a cavity in the base of the gate when the gate is depressed.

Disadvantages of such an arrangement are as follows:

1. All of theparts are special components, which must be provided by means of special die casting moulds and working machines.

2. The capacity of the rod in respect of curtain suspenders is substantially less than the entire length of the rod. Expressed more concisely the capacity is smaller by that length which corresponds to the flexible rod. For the reason that a definite capacity must be available one is only able to provide such necessary capacity by making the rod of considerable length. However, if the rod is made of such length then operating difficulties arise in all cases where there is not a great deal of free space available underneath the internal runner curtain rail, which is usually the case when curtain rails are mounted over windowsills used for displaying flowers.

3. The length of the rod presents difficulties in the storage in so far as cupboards are not available having the necessary height.

4. The tongues frequently break off, one reason for this being that mistakes can be made as regards the correct direction for insertion in the gate, and secondly by reason of the fact that the tongues must not exceed a certain thickness because their surfaces must align with the guide surfaces in the gate. Although the extension is made exchangeable, it is not to be expected that the housewife will be familiar with the type and manner of the exchange, nor keep any replacement parts in stock,

as a result of which the hanging or taking down of the curtains must be interrupted when the extension becomes unserviceable, and only then will a new extension be obtained (similar circumstances apply to DAS 1,729,920).

\ 5. The rectilinear portion and the curved portion are, as already mentioned, made integrally. The curved portion is probably heated during manufacture and then bent. In practice it has proved to be the case that with increasing age the curved portion becomes stretched. This means that in course of time it cannot any longer 7 be presented immediately underneath the gate as was the case immediately after the rod was purchased, so

that there is not sufficient freedom of manipulation for the lower end of the rod',which will foul on other objects. The subsequent bending to form the curved portion of the rod arises from the condition that only thermoplasts and not thermosetting compounds can be em ployed for the U profile. Moreover it is not possible to use any regenerated thermoplasts.

6. When profile components are bent then the walls tend to kink outwardly or inwardly according as to whether they lie to the left or the right of the neutral fibres. It is of course possible when bending on the bending tool to provide a rib which projects into the running groove slot and provides that its dimensions are maintained, but this operation makes manufacture expensive and moreover the curved portion must remain for such time upon the bending tool until it has fully cooled down, otherwise the resetting process will] set in too early.

7. It is essential to secure the U profile in the U- shaped wooden rail. It would not be practicable in producing the article to cement the U profile rigidly into the wooden rail. One must therefore resort to a few riveted connections, which naturally only give a bond at certain positions. Moreover it is necessary in this operation to introduce the rivets through the runner groove slot of the U profile, which, of necessity, limits the size thereof.

8. On account of the type of system which is chosen it is not possible to withdraw the curtain from the gate Y without the use of the rod, whilst the insertion of the curtain is practically impossible if the rod is not used. The withdrawal of the curtain is complicated as compared with the earlier simplicity of this operation.

9. The rod having a length of 1.80m represents a very long lever arm. If it is not properly operated then quite considerable forces can be exerted upon the gate and upon the bent portion of the rod.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide such a rod, which as regards its price intensive components can consist of parts which can be made available by mass production, and can therefore be produced substantially more economically so as to be attractive to a wider public, and which, notwithstanding a diminished length, can possess the same or even a greater capacity than the known rods.

According to the invention the problem is solved by the following features.

The straight portion of the rod comprises a single run of box section rectilinear mass produced curtain rail having reinforcement elements at each side'of the runner groove. The expelling rod is a mass produced charging rod which is situated externally of the runner groove. That end of the charging rod remote from the handle is connected by means of a joint to a displacing member which is situated within the runner groove of the charging rod, can be moved back and forth therein, and by means of a joint assembly traverses the slot of the runner groove. The bent portion comprises a die cast member which is secured rigidly to the blunt cutoff open end of the curtain rail at a). The two tongues extend in such a position that in the position of use they engage underneath the runner groove base of the gate, whilst the upper side is situated underneath the running surface of the runner groove base of the bent portion of the rod. The stiffening rib has a projection which extends out beyond the contact surface and has such a shape that, when in operation, it lies upon the upper side of the downwardly swung gate. By reason of the fact that notwithstanding its greater capacity the rod canbe maintained of short length, it represents also a shorter lever arm, so that the forces exercised, intentionally or unintentionally, upon the gate are correspondingly less in this proportion so that the danger of damage is reduced. Beds of flowers and the like which may be adjacent are disturbed much less or even not at all during the use of the rod. When presenting the rod to the gate no errors can be made because if the gate is snapped downwardly it will be perfectly clear to any person what is the direction in which the rod should be introduced.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred practical example. The accompanying drawings comprise the following:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a window including as installed curtain rail, one of the curtains already in thehung position, a rod attached to the rail, upon which is situated another one of the curtains.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the detail marked A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a section along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the upper part of the rod. FIG. 5 is an underneath view of FIG.'4.

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the lower part of the rod. 4

FIG. 8 is a section along the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an underneath view of the guide gate in the closed position.

FIG. 10 is a section along the line 10l0 of FIG. 9.

According to FIG. 1 a wall 11 has a window 12 installed therein, above which is secured a curtain rail 13 of the internal runner type. The left hand drape 14 of the curtain is shown already hung, whilst the right hand drape 16 is in a position to be hung by means of the rod 17. At the upper edge of the curtain 16 there are secured curtain runners, which may be rollers or sliders. The rod 17 comprises a straight portion 18 and a curved portion 19. The straight portion 18 includes an internal runner curtain rail 21, which has a track groove 22 exactly of the same type as that of the curtain rail 13. Accordingly there is provided a track groove opening 23 which is defined by the track groove flanges 24 and 26. The curtain rail portion 21 extends over the entire length of the straight portion 18 of the rod. To the right and to the left of the runner groove 22 are wooden rods 27 and 28 of rectangular cross section clad with synthetic plastics material. Such curtain rails are known as two-component rails and can be employed either in the form of finished rails or unfinished rails. At its sides the curtain rail 21 is provided with pairs of clamping strips 29 and 31, which are likewise also conventional in curtain rails. At the lower region of the curtain rail 21 or in that position where it is usually graspeclby the hand of the user, there are inserted covering strips 32 and 33 of resilient plastics material having a rounded profile and which therefore impart a more comfortable grip to this region of the curtain rail 21. At the lower end the covering strips 32 and 33 are mitred and a similar covering strip 34 is placed across the lower end face of the curtain rail 21 and at the same time covers the runner groove 22. The curtain rail 21 is about 1.10 m long and 4 cm wide. It is therefore possible to manufacture these rails from cut-off waste portions of otherwise useless curtain rails, by sawing these reject pieces to the required length. Moreover this length is adequate having regard to the required capacity but is nevertheless extremely convenient to handle. Because this rod is nothing else than a curtain rail, this means that it will be clear to any servicing personnel, even the uninitiated, that it is a device for use with curtain rails notwithstanding the fact that it may be placed among other rods and devices.

In the runner groove 22 there is fitted a stopper 36 having a blade 37 made of synthetic plastics material,

whose width is somewhat greater than that of the runner groove 22 and substantially closes the cross section thereof. A self-cutting screw 38 is fitted into a symmetrical left hand bore, said screw traversing the runner groove slots 23 and carrying an external rotatable knob 39 fixed to the screw. The thickness of the blade 37 is i s smaller than the width of the runner groove slot 23. It

is therefore possible to insert the blade in the runner groove22 and then to turn the knob 39 until the ends of the blade 37 bear against the walls of the runner The curved portion 19 takes the form of a sector of a circle and extends over an arc of about 70, and at the transition point 43 its box profile 41 aligns exactly with the straight portion 18 of the rod as regards the runner groove 42 of the curved portion and the runner groove 22 of the straight portion. Parallel to the box profile 41 there is formed integrally a box profile 116 of arcuate shape and extending likewise over about 70, of which the wall 117 is common to both of these box profiles.

" i In this region there are provided integrally with the curved portion 19 two plane extension members 44 and 46 to the right hand and left hand thereof, which project over the upper end of the curtain rail 21. From the extension members 44 and 46 right angled flange plate extend downwardly which are substantially narrower than the space available between the pairs of clamping strips 29 and 31 and which are releasably'secured in the wood rods 27 and 28 by means of screws.

Similar to the pairs of clamping strips 29 and 31, the curved portion 19 is also provided with stiffening ribs 51 on the box profiles 41 and 116, these being approximately as thick as the vertical wall of the box profiles 41 and l 16. A further stiffening rib 52 extends from the upper region 53 over the entire length of the box profile 41, and a short portion thereof 54 overlaps and fits over the curtain rail 21. The stiffening rib 52 is slightly narrower than the slot 56 of the runner groove of the internal runner curtain rail 13 and accordingly has a width of about 4 mm. The stiffening rib S2 is, however, in no case of greater height than the runner groove 57 of the curtain rail 13, and is injection moulded integrally with the curved portion 19. The stiffening rib 52 projects about 2 cm beyond the region 53 in the form of a hook 58, having a downwardly directed point 59.

Upon the box profile 116 there is provided a second stiffening rib 118, which likewise has a small portion 119 engaging over the curtain rail 21. Up to the tangential end surface 121, this stiffening rib 118 is of arcuate form like the stiffening rib 52. According to FIG. 4 there are provided at the top of the stiffening rib 113 and at the bottom of the stiffening rib 52 the respective stops 62 and 61, which can bear with a large surface from underneath against the runner groove flanges 63 and 64 of they curtain rail 13. The region 53 is provided at its end to the right hand and left hand of the stiffening rib 52 with inclined portions 66 and 67, which align with the upper side of the stops 61, 62 and the end face 121 and when in operation are positioned horizontally. The inclined portion 67 is substantially wider than the inclined portion 66. At the end remote from the region v-53, the stiffening rib 52 merges into a strip 112, which according to FIG. 2 is upwardly inclined to the left hand side, and, like the stiffening rib 52, is situated in the central plane and is of rectangular cross section. At

its free end the strip 112 terminates in a T profile at-the head thereof, whose horizontal flange 113 is arranged symmetrically to the strip 112 and is substantially wider than the runner groove slot 23. The arrangement is so devised that the upper side of the flange 113, the upper side of the stops 61 and 62, the end face 121 and the inclined portions 66 and 67 are aligned in the same plane. This plane extends in a horizontal direction when the device is in operation. The vertical flange 114 of the T section extends centrally from the flange 113 and is narrower than the runner'groove slot 23. In operation it serves, together with the flange 113 as an auxiliary positioning means for the rod 17. It also reduces the lever action of the rod 17 upon the gate 79. In respect of the details of this arrangement reference will be made more particularly to the scale drawing of FIGS. 2 to 8.

From the lower part of the region 53 of the curved portion of the rod, three tongues 69, 71 and 122 extend from the end face 68, and these have the upper sides thereof 72, 73 and 123 directed substantially tangential to the direction of the curved portion 19, these upper sides being set downwardly by a step 74, 76 and 124 re spectively which is equal to the thickness of the runner groove flanges 77, 78, 126 and 127 of the curved portion 19 and the thickness of the runner groove flanges 63 and 64 of the curtain rail 13. Furthermore, according to FIG. 2, the effective spacing between the hook shaped extension 59 of the stiffening rib 52, and the upper sides 72 and 73 of the tongues is so dimensioned that it corresponds to the thickness of a gate 79 which can fit therebetween. As may be further seen from FIG. 2, the runner groove flanges 78 lead smoothly into the runner groove flanges 64'of the gate 79. For removing the curtains funnel-shaped inclined members 81, 82, 128 and 129 are provided at the extreme inner ends of the tongues 69, 71 and 192. To improve the stiffening effect it is also possible to provide a one-piece angle bar member between the box profile 4'1 and the exten' sion member 44, as is shown in FIG. 4. As may be seen from the drawings the box profile .116 terminates flush with the box profile 41 and also begins flush with the latter. The box profile does not extend laterally over the side boundary of the straight portion 18, which is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. Nevertheless the box 116 has no extension in the straight portion 18. If, however, it is desired to provide for the straight portion 18 a double track internal runner curtain rail 21, then it will be possible to arrange for the box profile 116 to have its extension in the second track of this curtain rail. On the other hand, in the present practical example now described, the box profile 116 terminates flush in front of the wooden rod 27.

The body 83 of a known type of guide carriage has both of its suspension eyes cut off so that only the stumps 84 extend into the runner groove slot 23. The support body 83 together with the stump 84 projects so far to the left, according-to FIG. 2, that the curtain suspension members lying in front of it do not rub upon the double roller 86. In the central downwardly projecting one-piece eye 87 there is suspended at conventional ejection rod 88 with a mushroom head 89. The ejection rod 88 is of such length, as is normally the case, that its handle 91 is at a convenient gripping height when in the uppermost position.

In precise register with the curtain rail 13 there lies a rectangular cavity 92 in which is fitted a frame 93 together with the gate 79. The cavity 92 results only in a slight weakening of the outer wooden rod 96. The

frame 93 is connected to the curtain rail 13 by. adhesive. A thin peripheral rim 94 engages under the curtain rail 13 and serves as an aid to positioning. Within the frame 93 the runner grooves of the curtain rail 13 are continued without interruption. For securing purposes two screw holes 97 and 98 are provided in the frame 93, these being positioned at the places where the central wooden rod 96 is interrupted. In the frame 93 there is provided a rectangular cavity 99. At the longer side surfaces of the cavity 99 there are provided upwardly open seating liners 101, and the base thereof inclines, according to FIG. and 11, from the left to the right. They are extended in length by the thickness of a cylindrical stud 102. The gate 79 can be swung open downwardly about this stud 102.

In the gate 79 there is provided a leftwardly extending chamber 106 in a position corresponding to a continuation of the central wooden bar 96, in which chamber there is provided a spiral spring 107 which forces a catch 108 outwardly when in the closed position. Formed integrally with the catch is a knob 109, whose spacing from the lower side of the gate 79 is greater than the thickness of the curved region 53 at the position of the inclined members 66 and 67. The knob 109 has its shaft in a slot 110 in the gate 79.

According to FIG. 12 there are provided at the upper side of the frame 93 at the right hand side two shallow rectangular cavities 131 and 132. These lie at opposite sides of the cavity 133 in which the catch 108 engages. Apart from the base thickness of the frame, the cavity 133 is, however, of the same height as the frame itself.

The top cover of the gate 134 does not extend over the entire length of the gate 79. The cover terminates instead at the position of the transverse discontinuity 136. According to FIG. 12 the side walls 137 and 138 of the gate 79 as well as the intermediate walls 139, 141 and 142 continue beyond the step 136.

According to FIG. 12, two thin plates 143 and 144 at the top and the bottom respectively are made integrally with the catch 108, of which the plate 143 is longer than the plate 144. These plates are preferably somewhat thinner but they may not be of greater thickness than the cover 134 and they may be displaced to the left and the right with the catch 108. At the outer extremity the plates 143 and 144 are guided in guide channels 146 and 147 of the side walls 137 and 138. Moreover the plate 134 can slide upon the upper side of the intermediate wall 139 and the plate 144 can slide upon the upper side of the intermediate wall 141 and 142. Upon the plate 143 there is provided a projection 148 directed to the right hand side, and on the plate 144 there is provided a projection 149, both of which are of such length and thickness that they fit into the cavities 131 and 132 when the gate 79 is closed. If only the action of the catch 108 were to be relied upon to hold the gate 79 in the closed position then the latter could become warped if heavy curtains were to be suspended in the gate 79. Additional guidance is provided for the plates 143 and 144 together with the projections 148 and 149 by a cover 151, which extends over the outer wooden bars 96 and covers the frame 93 together with the gate 79. To accommodate the cover 151 the curtain rail 13 is provided in this region with a shallow rectangular cavity 152, which does not substantially weaken the wooden bars 96. By cementing the cover 151 to the curtain rail 13 and the frame 93 there is achieved an additional stiffening of the structure and projection against any falling particles.

In the open position of the gate 79 according to FIG. 11 the studs 102 have been snapped into the lowest position in the bearing cups 101. As may be seen from the drawing the gate 79 still fits into the frame 93 without any gap. The gate 79 swings downwardly but not entirely away from the frame 93 because in this position the projections 148 and 149 bear upon steps 153, of the frame 93, which correspond to the position of the upper side of the runner groove flanges 154 and 156. Also a projection 157 is provided at the top of the catch 108, which is supported like the projections 148 and 149.

When it is desired to suspend a curtain, the rod 17 is applied with its stiffening rib 52 in the central or lower running groove 57 according to FIG. 9 in a position to the right hand side of the knob 109, and the rod is then pushed to the left. By this action, the inclined member 67, or else the nose member 158 forming a continuation of inclined member 66, is applied in the opening direction to the shaft of the knob 109, whereby the gate 79 is unlocked. If there is also provided a similar nose piece 158 at the side of the inclined member 67, then it is possible to insert the stiffening rib 52 also in the uppermost runner groove 57 of FIG. 9.

The gate 79 now assumes the position shown in FIG. 11. Its tracks are now accessible from below. The suspension members of the curtain drape 16 are now arranged in a row in the long runner groove 22 in so far as they do not belong to the overlay. Those suspension members which belong to the overlay of the curtain drape 16 are aligned in the short runner groove of the box profile 116. Then the stiffening rib 52 is placed in the upper runner groove 57 and the rod 17 is pushed so far until it meets the gate 79. If now the charging rod 83 is pushed upwardly then the suspension members belonging to the overlap of the curtain drapes 16 arrive in the central runner groove 57, and immediately thereafter the remainder of the suspension members arrive in the upper runner groove 57. It is therefore possible with a single working operation to bring the correct portions of the curtain 16 into the appertaining runner grooves 57 and it is not necessary subsequently to introduce manually those suspension members belonging to the overlap, or to load them separately into the rod 17 (which is hardly conceivable) or else to do away with the overlap itself.

The gate 79 is now closed by pressing against it from below with the rod 17. Then the curtain 16 is drawn into its required position so that it is symmetrical with the other curtain 14. At the end of the upper runner groove 57 the suspension member lying nearest to the wall 11 is then accommodated in a clip. In this operation the hook 58 can be of assistance.

It has been assumed that the curtain has already been introduced into the correct position. For this purpose it is only necessary to align the suspension members of the curtain 16 in the runner groove 22 of the rod and then to introduce them into the upper runner groove 57. The runner groove of the box profile 116 then remains unused.

The device has the advantage that by means of the charging rod 88 the curtain 14, or the curtain 16, can be pushed along as far as is thought necessary because the curtain rod 88 is capable of moving within the curtain rail 13 as is the case with conventional charging rods.

The entire device is so simple that it can be efficiently assembled by a layman within a short time. It requires for this purpose no kind of special tools. With the exception of the curved portion 19 the device can be produced at any time from replacement parts which are always in stock for other purposes. For example instead of using the support body 83 it is possible to use other types of guide carriage available for curtains and to suspend in said carriage the charging rod 88. In many cases it would therefore be sufficient merely to deliver the straight component 18 and the curved component 19.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for introducing and withdrawing curtain suspenders in the tracks of curtain rails by means of a guide rod comprising a gate which in its closed condition has at least its lower side in alignment with the lower side of the curtain rail, the gate having therein runner grooves which are an extension of and in the same form as the runner grooves of the curtain rail and which align with the said curtain rail grooves when the gate is in the closed condition,

the curtain rail having therein a shallow rectangular cavity for receiving the gate,

said gate being pivotable about a pivoting axis situated at one end thereof in such a manner that the crosssection of the runner grooves situated at the other end of the gate is rendered accessible below the underside of the curtain rail,

. said gate having its downward pivoting movement limited by stop means, and

said gate having a spring-loaded locking catch which retains the gate in the raised position, said locking catch being accessible from below for release.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gate has a substantially uninterrupted back, the lower side of which is in alignment at least with the back of the curtain rail on which are provided the downwardly projecting walls of the runners and the side flanges of the said runners.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gate is mounted in a frame fitted in the cavity in the curtain rail.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the gate is in the closed condition the locking catch has its underside bearing against a step which lies at the level of the upper side of the flanges of the runner groove while in the open condition the locking catch of the gate has a projection thereof which bears upon said step, said projection being situated at the top of the locking catch and having such a spacing from the lower side of the locking catch as to correspond with the vertical height of the runner groove.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein at least at one side of the locking catch a plate is provided which extends up to the oppositely positioned wall of the gate and has at that position a guide member and, in the closed condition of the gate, engages in seating means whilst in the open condition of the gate said plate bears upon the step.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein there are provided in the region of the pivoting axis of the gate two stub shaft bearing devices, the stub shafts of which extend normal to the longitudinal direction of the rail and are in alignment with each other, each of said bearing. devices having a base for receiving the periphery of the stub shaft, the shape of said base defining the geometrical position of the periphery of the stub shafts when the gate is pivoted and being adapted substantially to prevent any sinking of the edge of the end face of the gate when the latter is pivoted.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bearing devices are upwardly open. I

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking catch for the gate comprises a plunger guided in a slot provided in a frame in the curtain rail. 

1. A device for introducing and withdrawing curtain suspenders in the tracks of curtain rails by means of a guide rod comprising a gate which in its closed condition has at least its lower side in alignment with the lower side of the curtain rail, the gate having therein runner grooves which are an extension of and in the same form as the runner grooves of the curtain rail and which align with the said curtain rail grooves when the gate is in the closed condition, the curtain rail having therein a shallow rectangular cavity for receiving the gate, said gate being pivotable about a pivoting axis situated at one end thereof in such a manner that the crosssection of the runner grooves situated at the other end of the gate is rendered accessible below the underside of the curtain rail, said gate having its downward pivoting movement limited by stop means, and said gate having a spring-loaded locking catch which retains the gate in the raised position, said locking catch being accessible from below for release.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gate has a substantially uninterrupted back, the lower side of which is in alignment at least with the back of the curtain rail on which are provided the downwardly projecting walls of the runners and the side flanges of the said runners.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gate is mounted in a frame fitted in the cavity in the curtain rail.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the gate is in the closed condition the locking catch has its underside bearing against a step which lies at the level of the upper side of the flanges of the runner groove while in the open condition the locking catch of the gate has a projection thereof which bears upon said step, said projection being situated at the top of the locking catch and having such a spacing from the lower side of the locking catch as to correspond with the vertical height of the runner groove.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein at least at one side of the locking catch a plate is provided which extends up to the oppositely positioned wall of the gate and has at that position a guide member and, in the closed condition of the gate, engages in seating means whilst in the open condition of the gate said plate bears upon the step.
 6. A devIce according to claim 1, wherein there are provided in the region of the pivoting axis of the gate two stub shaft bearing devices, the stub shafts of which extend normal to the longitudinal direction of the rail and are in alignment with each other, each of said bearing devices having a base for receiving the periphery of the stub shaft, the shape of said base defining the geometrical position of the periphery of the stub shafts when the gate is pivoted and being adapted substantially to prevent any sinking of the edge of the end face of the gate when the latter is pivoted.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bearing devices are upwardly open.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking catch for the gate comprises a plunger guided in a slot formed in that part of the gate which is free of runner grooves, said plunger being forced by means of a spring away from the swinging end face of the gate when the latter is pivoted, said plunger having a downward extension which can be displaced manually backwards and forwards, whereby the plunger can be completely withdrawn into its slot, a complementary slot being provided in a frame in the curtain rail. 